places

Nothing makes me happier than stumbling upon a really great bookstore, and this one in Savannah takes the cake! While strolling down East Liberty Street in gorgeous Savannah—my favorite of all the beautiful Southern cities—my husband...

Grand Cayman is not all offshore banks and transplanted NYC fund managers in Teva sandals and bad Reyn Spooner shirts. Nor is it purely the monolithic mega-resorts dotting the well known Seven Mile Beach. Fortunately for the experiential traveler,...

Changing location every evening means waking up to a different but equally spectacular view. The ‘eco-loos’ are a bit questionable and the hot bucket showers take some getting used to, but you can sleep happy knowing your presence will go...

If you want to get a good impression of the historical city of Lisbon, and also see how small the city is, a must do attraction in Lisbon is to take the #28 tram, ‘elétrico 28′. This legendary tram 28 is a tourist attraction in itself. It goes all...

In 1938, Monsanto was voted the "Most Portuguese Village in Portugal", and only on approach will you marvel at how impressive it actually is. The village, nestled 2500 ft above the surrounding prairie has been built around and miraculously...

For every chocoholic out there, trust me on this one. When in Montreal you must go to Juliette & Chocolat! Hot or cold, white or milk, every dish is served with origin and vintage chocolates. I have tried sundaes, crepes, and fondue and none of...

Nicola Travaglini opened his fine food boutique last fall hoping to share the delicious bounty of Italy with the food lovers of Montreal. He has succeeded and then some. Travaglini and his business partner Domenico Armeni have created an inviting...

This 10-day tramping (that's Kiwi for "hiking") trip on the South Island of New Zealand is hard to beat. This will be your first hike of many, all of which connect you to a land so beautiful that it's impossible to ever leave. Kura Tawhiti is a...

There aren't too many hikes in the world that start with a ride on a water taxi, but that's how our hike on the Abel Tasman Trail began. We boarded our Sea Shuttle taxi off the beach in Kaiteriteri at 9:15am. Our taxi took us past a tiny island...

Wandering around the Plaza Mayor area in Madrid, I came across a small gelateria. Already full from a wine/tapas lunch with chocolate dipped churros for dessert, I still could not resist the smallest cone....it was huge! I had a choice of as many...

Located in downtown Kirkland, a short walk from the Lake Washington waterfront, the Heathman Hotel features understated modern elegance in northwest style. The wood paneling, stone, earth tones, and original modern paintings throughout create a...

While I was planning my second trip to Croatia, I researched other sites to visit besides Dubrovnik’s Old City and islands along the coast. One of my Croatian friends told me to look into the Plitvice waterfalls. As soon as I saw some photos...

Peaceful atmosphere, quaint colourful houses, beautiful lanes...those are things that make this area special! Not as touristy as La Petite France in Strasbourg, it gives you a chance to enjoy the tranquility and romance. And don't miss the photo...

This legendary tram 28 is a tourist attraction. It goes all around town. The way from the first to last station takes about 35 minutes.The tram is a hop-on, hop-off service and there are more than 30 stops you can choose from.

The Grand Central Oyster Bar celebrates its 100th anniversary this year as a New York institution. Located in the lower concourse of Grand Central, it serves over 25 varieties of oysters daily. There is a huge menu of American...

Going for a drive on a Sunday afternoon in the Romansch-speaking high country in Graubunden, Switzerland, where road and railroad crisscross each other frequently in the Alps, often on century-old stone bridges. I was staying with a...

I love the funicular trains of Genoa, built at an angle to take you up the steep mountains. Take the Zecca-Righi line to the top for an incredible panorama of the city, and walk down into the center through narrow alleys, passing tiny gardens and...

If you're a lover of wine, then forget about the Napa Valley and Bordeaux, and instead head to Moravia, located in the southern part of the Czech Republic. By all means visit the wine museum in the castle, but then head into town to enjoy a few...

I love wine. But, I also love vineyards. I love the bright green leaves; the green, red and purple juicy grapes; but, mostly, I love the symmetry of the rows of grapevines. There is something orderly to it all. And throw in a brightly-colored red...

The famous Big Piano is a great thing to do while in New York City to play like a kid. Two minutes is your time for the famous piano. Don't forget to check out your photo at the end to purchase if you would like as your memorabilia as your...

By now, most people are familiar with tapas style eating thanks to the global promulgation of Spanish restaurants. But many people probably aren’t (yet) familiar with tapas’ tasty cousin, the pintxo. Pinxtos, or pinchos depending where in the...

The Napali Coast is one of the world's most beautiful places. I was so struck by the beauty of the green mountains rising out of the sea, and the dolphins swimming right under our boat, and the humpback whales too numerous to count that I forgot...

"Bir lira, bira lira!" you'll hear from food cart vendors as you stroll though the streets of Istanbul. It means, "one lira, one lira," so if you're hungry and on a budget you might want to check out what's on offer. These guys peddle corn on the...

Visit any good seafood restaurant in Belgium, and you'll see gray shrimp on the menu. In fact, you may even be offered a bowl of these small, sweet delicacies to nibble while you decide on your main course. These days, the majority of the gray...

When going to Italy there are so many beautiful and breathtaking things that have such historical relevance and striking beauty. Venezia, Firenze, and Roma all have very powerful histories from the rule of Venetians to the birth of the Renaissance...

When near Terni, stop by this man made waterfall created by the ancient Romans. The controlled water flow is used to power the surrounding area so best to arrive in the early morning when the falls are at their most powerful.

San Gimingnano is an old Etruscan walled town that is famous for their white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimingnano and their town center gelateria, Gelateria di Piazza San Gimingnano. This mid-spring view over looking the Tuscan land scape is what...

One of the most charming towns we visited during our May trip to Italy was Pienza, situated in Tuscany between Montepulciano and Montalcino (also worth a visit if you're in the area). Pienza is best known for its delicious pecorino cheeses,...

The Abate Zanetti Glass School has been home to masters of Murano glassblowing for 150 years. Giancarlo Signoretto teaches a five-day primer in the furnace room on how to gather glass from the kiln and use blowing pipes, tweezers, and molds to...

D’Osvaldo is one of the only remaining producers of the smoked ham known as prosciutto di Cormòns, a local specialty. Visit the smoking room behind the family estate, where legs of prosciutto hang above smoldering cherry wood gathered from the...

While visiting Florence in May, my husband and I made the trek to the Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of the city. We wandered around a bit to try to find a quieter place from which to enjoy the view of Florence and came upon this...

My search for the world's best ice cream took me to Italy, then to Florence, then to a gelateria called La Carraia, in the neighborhood of Santa Trinita across the river. There, I found a blissful, creamy mix of pistachio and chocolate, the same...

Lovely pottery everywhere. Lots of beautiful views and quaint cobblestone streets. Took a trip with a university group and it was a lot of fun. Prepare for some harrowing rides up and down the mountains

Shuffling onto my balcony at Lagació Mountain Residencein Alta Badia armed with a cup of steaminglatte, I found an electric-green carpet spread before me. Plush with pines and dotted with medieval churches and tinyrifugi(mountain huts)clustered in...

"The albergo castiglione is operated by the Saracco family, which is also the main moscato wine producer in the area, so don't miss to ask for factory tour and take some bottles home. The hotel also offer some apartments with fuly equipped...

The colors! The traditional art of Italian ceramics is celebrated in this shop, conveniently located, close to the Mercato Centrale. It's a joy to browse amidst the vibrant, hand painted goodies, that are reasonably priced. It's perfect for...

While in Vicenza I highly recommend the 40 minute hike from the centre of town up to the outskirts where Renaissance villas reign over the countryside. You can Google Map your walking/driving route from the centre of Vicenza however I recommend...

The waterfalls at Cascate delle Marmore are manmade, but you'd never know it. In ancient Roman times, the town of Rieti was plagued by malaria from the nearby wetlands. Roman engineers diverted a river over the cliff to reduce the amount of water...

What could be better than a stroll through the vineyards and olive trees at sunset? How about strolling through the vineyards and olive trees at sunset in the not-so-touristy Valpolicella wine region of northern Italy? This area of the Veneto...

Yellowstone is the original spreading ground of tall tales, and nothing inspires exaggerated boasts like fishing. Wading into chest-deep water and tossing a fly out over a raging river in an effort to land a cutthroat trout is a quintessential...

Facing off against the wild Wyoming backcountry is a tremendous experience, though proper preparation and certain precautions are important when considering any backcountry day trip or overnight pack adventure in Yellowstone. The park service runs...

Yellowstone features more than 1,100 miles of well-maintained trails, many of which are easily accessible and family-friendly. The Cascade Loop is an easy 4.5-mile trail that is most beautiful in June and July, when wildflowers paint the Cascade...

There are plenty of swimming holes in and around Salt Lake City – some natural, like the Great Salt Lake, and some artificial, like the Seven Peaks Waterpark. Antelope Island, in the middle of the lake and accessible by a drivable seven-mile...

Look up, steady your hands, and start your climb. The best way to experience Utah is on the way up; Utah’s mountains are renowned for their technical difficulty, variability, and surface challenges (everything from redrock to granite, shale and...

For a one-night trek, climb to the Thousand Fairies Camp, 12,467 feet above the town of Paro. The next morning, descend to Tiger’s Nest, a 17th-century monastery built into the side of a cliff. The guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan,...

It's not top of most people's travel itinerary for Lisbon but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed São Vicente da Fora Monastery. I only went there for the views but got more than I bargained for in the form of stunning azulejos (handpainted...

We were among the first 50 or so people into Machu Picchu in the morning and the fog completely set the scene. It really made you feel like you were in a lost city and helped you understand how it could have been lost for so long.

The trees look as if they have plotted a slow attack to take over the road. Vines hang down trying to slyly block my way and hinder my vision. The road isn’t straight nor does it have any defined shoulders or boundaries. The asphalt is laid around...

My girlfriend and I were celebrating the day of her birth with a lovely off road adventure. Once at the top, we decided to hike at the peak of Kebler Pass while witnessing Aspen trees as wide as truck tires. The towering forest, mingling with...

I lived in Colorado for 15 years and explored some areas quite a bit, camera in hand. The Crested Butte area is one of the prettiest areas in the state. Crested Butte is known as a ski destination, but I went in summer and autumn and loved it. Get...

The guidebooks say this is a difficult trek but well worth it. After a huffing and puffing trek to the top of Roy’s Peak, I would most certainly like to concur. 11k in approximately 4-5 hours, a decent level of fitness is most needed for this...

My husband & I were lucky to have the opportunity to travel around New Zealand for several weeks. Of course, Milford Sound was one of the "must sees" on our list. We booked a day tour with a local operator called Trips and Tramps. Unfortunately,...